Pushing the Promise forward: Residents chip in for county scholarship program

Donald and Edahlia Shnenk are the first donors to the Cleveland County Promise.

The Star/Brittany Randolph

By Jessica Pickens

Published: Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 04:55 PM.

Donald Schenck has no children or grandchildren in Cleveland County schools.

But after he read about the Cleveland County Promise, the program which aims to send every graduating high school senior from the county to college, he immediately donated. In fact, he was the first donor.

“Right after I finished reading the first story in The Star, I went right to PayPal and donated,” Schneck said. “It is one of the best college options. Everyone can go to school as long as they have the grades.”

The Promise organization, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, was founded in 2013, with the goal of funding college tuition to all graduating high school seniors who live in Cleveland County, where three out of every five public school children receive financial aid just to eat lunch each day.

Schneck grew up in Cleveland County but left in 1966 after he graduated from Douglas High School to join the military. He retired in 1992.

“Anytime you talk about giving something for free, people may not believe it,” Schneck said. “This program gives everyone a chance. A lot of people say it’s a great idea. If you think it’s a good idea, you need to stop talking and pay into it.”

The Promise set a goal to raise $5.5 million by April 30, for the class of 2014. However, the non-profit is still working to reach that goal.

Currently, more than 16,000 students are enrolled in county schools.

“As it stands now, we won’t be able to send students to school immediately. This is a program that won’t happen overnight,” said executive director Cherish Cawthon. “However, The Cleveland County Promise is a good idea today and it’s still a good idea tomorrow.”

To date, less than 100 students have applied for the assistance, Cawthon said. Many of those who have applied for the scholarship listed Gardner-Webb University as their first choice of college. The annual income of families that have applied for the assistance range from $11,000 to $117,000.

The Promise program has helped transform other communities by improving graduation rates, helping attract new industries and boosting employment. Willie Green, the Cleveland County Promise organizer and a former NFL player, saw the program work in other communities like El Dorado, Ark., and decided to pursue the goal here.

The next step for the Promise is expanding the board and engaging the community with the program.

“We want people to buy into the idea and investing their time and money. Even if it’s one dollar,” Cawthon said. “You don’t just have to be a parent or student. Donald isn’t any of those.”

Some students who are signed up for the Promise will only need money to help with $400 worth of books each semester. The program also helps benefit students who can’t receive any FAFSA money. Their parents may each make $75,000 a year and they won’t receive federal money, Cawthon said.

“College is expensive regardless of how much money you make,” she said.

Other successful programs around the county also took time to get off the ground, she said.

“We see projects such as the American Legion World Series, the Earl Scruggs Center or other things that benefit Cleveland County,” Cawthon said. “None of those were done overnight. It’s a process and we want to be good stewards of the money. We are always pushing forward.”

How can I donate?

Checks can be made out to the Cleveland County Promise or donated through the Promise’s PayPal account located at www.TheClevelandCountyPromise.com . Make checks payable to:

You can also learn more by "liking" The Cleveland County Promise on Facebook and following @CleveCoPromise on Twitter.

Who's eligible for scholarships?

* Any student who graduates from a Cleveland County high school (public, private, home school or charter) is eligible for The Promise Scholarship. (don't need the ending since it repeats the breakout header)

* Must live in Cleveland County for at least four years.

* Provides up to four years of tuition and payment of mandatory fees

* Open to in-state, out-of-state, private or public colleges or universities

* All students must complete a financial aid form.

* Other private scholarships would not count against eligibility for the Promise program.

* Must be enrolled at least 15 hours per semester and 30 hours for school year.

* Does not pay for summer school. Transferring to other colleges is allowed, but college must be completed within four years.

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Donald Schenck has no children or grandchildren in Cleveland County schools.

But after he read about the Cleveland County Promise, the program which aims to send every graduating high school senior from the county to college, he immediately donated. In fact, he was the first donor.

“Right after I finished reading the first story in The Star, I went right to PayPal and donated,” Schneck said. “It is one of the best college options. Everyone can go to school as long as they have the grades.”

The Promise organization, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, was founded in 2013, with the goal of funding college tuition to all graduating high school seniors who live in Cleveland County, where three out of every five public school children receive financial aid just to eat lunch each day.

Schneck grew up in Cleveland County but left in 1966 after he graduated from Douglas High School to join the military. He retired in 1992.

“Anytime you talk about giving something for free, people may not believe it,” Schneck said. “This program gives everyone a chance. A lot of people say it’s a great idea. If you think it’s a good idea, you need to stop talking and pay into it.”

The Promise set a goal to raise $5.5 million by April 30, for the class of 2014. However, the non-profit is still working to reach that goal.

Currently, more than 16,000 students are enrolled in county schools.

“As it stands now, we won’t be able to send students to school immediately. This is a program that won’t happen overnight,” said executive director Cherish Cawthon. “However, The Cleveland County Promise is a good idea today and it’s still a good idea tomorrow.”

To date, less than 100 students have applied for the assistance, Cawthon said. Many of those who have applied for the scholarship listed Gardner-Webb University as their first choice of college. The annual income of families that have applied for the assistance range from $11,000 to $117,000.

The Promise program has helped transform other communities by improving graduation rates, helping attract new industries and boosting employment. Willie Green, the Cleveland County Promise organizer and a former NFL player, saw the program work in other communities like El Dorado, Ark., and decided to pursue the goal here.

The next step for the Promise is expanding the board and engaging the community with the program.

“We want people to buy into the idea and investing their time and money. Even if it’s one dollar,” Cawthon said. “You don’t just have to be a parent or student. Donald isn’t any of those.”

Some students who are signed up for the Promise will only need money to help with $400 worth of books each semester. The program also helps benefit students who can’t receive any FAFSA money. Their parents may each make $75,000 a year and they won’t receive federal money, Cawthon said.

“College is expensive regardless of how much money you make,” she said.

Other successful programs around the county also took time to get off the ground, she said.

“We see projects such as the American Legion World Series, the Earl Scruggs Center or other things that benefit Cleveland County,” Cawthon said. “None of those were done overnight. It’s a process and we want to be good stewards of the money. We are always pushing forward.”

How can I donate?

Checks can be made out to the Cleveland County Promise or donated through the Promise’s PayPal account located at www.TheClevelandCountyPromise.com . Make checks payable to:

You can also learn more by "liking" The Cleveland County Promise on Facebook and following @CleveCoPromise on Twitter.

Who's eligible for scholarships?

* Any student who graduates from a Cleveland County high school (public, private, home school or charter) is eligible for The Promise Scholarship. (don't need the ending since it repeats the breakout header)

* Must live in Cleveland County for at least four years.

* Provides up to four years of tuition and payment of mandatory fees

* Open to in-state, out-of-state, private or public colleges or universities

* All students must complete a financial aid form.

* Other private scholarships would not count against eligibility for the Promise program.

* Must be enrolled at least 15 hours per semester and 30 hours for school year.

* Does not pay for summer school. Transferring to other colleges is allowed, but college must be completed within four years.